Union Pacific to spend $8 million improving Illinois infrastructure

Union Pacific Railroad is enhancing Illinois' transportation infrastructure by investing nearly $8 million in the rail line that runs between Villa Grove and Findlay.

The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of November. This work is in addition to the project Union Pacific is doing in 2012 on the Illinois Department of Transportation's high-speed rail corridor between Chicago and St. Louis.

The 41-mile project includes replacing 51,300 ties, installing more than a half mile of rail in various curves, spreading 13,395 tons of ballast and renewing the surfaces at 86 road crossings.

Union Pacific plans to invest $3.6 billion in its rail network during 2012, supporting America's current and future freight transportation needs and enhancing the safety and efficiency of the railroad's 32,000-mile network.